Welcome to Pfalzgrafenstein Castle
Since it was originally built in 1327, the castle has towered above a rocky reef in the middle of the narrow Bacharach valley near Kaub, where the Rhine has been known for its wild waters since the 15th century. It served as a guard station collecting tolls for Kaub, making a significant income for the various feudal lords. Pfalzgrafenstein Castle is only accessible via the passenger ferry from Kaub.
We offer you an orientation map in English and French on site, which contains important key data and exciting information.
Opening hours
Current opening hours can be found here
Contact
Burg Pfalzgrafenstein
An der Autofähre
56349 Kaub am Rhein
Phone +49 (0) 261 6675 4870
Mobile +49 (0) 175 5938645 (also for information on the passenger ferry)
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Pfalzgrafenstein Castle is a historical site of the Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe Rheinland-Pfalz (General Directorate for Cultural Heritage Rhineland‑Palatinate), www.gdke.rlp.de
Admission to the castle including passenger ferry
Individuals
€8,00 Adults
€7,00 Adults, concessions*
€4.00 Children and young people (6-17 years)
Children up to 5 years receive free admission.
Families
€8.00 Family ticket 1 (1 adult with up to 4 children)
€16.00 Family ticket 2 (2 adults with up to 4 children)
Groups (10 or more people)
€7.00 Adults, price per person
€4.00 Children and young people (6-17 years) including school groups, price per person
Audio guide
€1,00 rental fee per device
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* Reduced admission with valid indentification: trainees and students up to the age of 27, pensioners, severely disabled people, Recipients of citizen's allowance and other basic benefits with proof, holders of the Rhineland-Palatinate volunteer card, holders of the youth leader card (Juleica), persons doing youth and federal voluntary service (e.g. FSJ, FOJ, FJD) and persons doing voluntary military service (FWD), school pupils of full age with a school ID card
There are parking spaces available between the B42 and the railway embankment.
The jetty for the personal ferry to Pfalzgrafenstein Castle and the car ferry to the B9 can be found about 1.5 km after the village name sign.
No food and drink is available at Pfalzgrafenstein Castle. However, there are a range of refreshments on offer nearby once you return from your visit to the castle.
Unfortunately, the unique location of Pfalzgrafenstein Castle in the middle of the Rhine means that it is not possible to install toilet facilities. There are public, barrier-free toilets at the car park at the Pegelhaus in Kaub.
Regrettably, as it is a historic site, disabled access to Pfalzgrafenstein Castle is not possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Amidst the Bacharach Valley, where the Rhine has been known as “Wildes Gefähr“ on account of the hazardous nature of this river section since the 15th century, Pfalzgrafenstein Castle sits enthroned on a rocky Rhine cliff near Kaub. It reminded the French writer Victor Hugo of a stone ship that has been anchored forever.
In 1327, King Ludwig of Bavaria had a pentagonal tower built on the small island. This was intended to protect the newly acquired territories in Kaub from its neighbours, the Electors of Mainz and Trier, as well as the lucrative customs office in Kaub. From 1339, the fortress was extended by
a twelve-metre-high circular wall with corner towers for spying on dutiable ships. This made it the link between the heavily fortified towns of Kaub and Bacharach. Together, they represented the strongest defence and territorial power factor of the Rhenish-Wittelsbach Palatinate on the Middle Rhine.
Time and again, the castle‘s walls and foundations had to be repaired due to flooding or ice damage. In the 17th century, this led to the construction of a pointed ashlar projection, which gave the castle its typical ship-like appearance. A bastion was probably built over the porch in 1606/07
to accommodate modern guns on the Pfalzgrafenstein. It was thus the first Middle Rhine castle to adapt to this new weapon technology.
In the 17th century, the curtain wall was given secondary battlements. In 1658 wooden bay windows were added to the four corner towers at the height of the old Gothic battlements.
During the Spanish Succession (1701 - 1713), the Pfalzgrafenstein was used as a prison for prisoners of war. It was at this time that the tower was given its current baroque lantern dome. After the castle was handed over to the Principality of Nassau-Usingen in 1802, it became Prussian property
in 1867 and has been administered by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate since
1949.
Today, the castle offers a vivid example of medieval architecture in an unusual location for castles.
Download our brochures and leaflets as PDFs:
Discover the World Heritage Site Upper Middle Rhine Valley
Living Culture in Rhineland-Palatinate
Touristinformation Kaub im Rathaus
Schulstrasse 12
56349 Kaub
Phone +49 (0) 6774 222
Romantischer Rhein Tourismus GmbH
Phone +49 (0) 261 - 97 38 47-0
info@romantischer-rhein.de
www.romantischer-rhein.de/en/